The Relationship between Car Accidents and PTSD

The Relationship between Car Accidents and PTSD

For years now, due to the traumas inherent in unexpected collisions (often at high speeds) between two masses of steel, individuals who experience a serious motor vehicle accident (MVA) are at increased risk for psychological problems, particularly Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). PTSD is an anxiety disorder often following a traumatic event involving actual or threatened death, serious injury, or threat to the physical integrity of oneself or others. American Psychiatric Association – 2013 – books.google.com. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5®)[Google Scholar])

The presence of PTSD in serious MVAs at least 30 days post-MVA is approximately 25 – 33%.  According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there were 6.7 million police-reported motor vehicle accidents in the country in 2018 that resulted in more than 2.7 million injuries. A study published in the journal Medicine found that the prevalence of PTSD in survivors of motor vehicle accidents was 22.25 percent.

In this piece, we’re going to explore the relationship between car accidents and PTSD. Let’s get into it.

Risk Factors for PTSD

Multiple factors have been linked to increasing the risk of developing PTSD, including:

  • Experiencing dissociation during or immediately after the traumatic event, which in this case would be the car accident;
  • Experiencing substantially high levels of emotion during or immediately after the car accident;
  • A history of prior trauma;
  • A family history of psychopathology;
  • A lack of social support after the accident;
  • Prior problems with psychological adjustment; and/or
  • A perceived threat to self or to others.

Two cars involved in a traffic collision.

What You Need to Look Out for

It is normal for someone to feel a flood of emotions, such as shock, grief, guilt, confusion, helplessness, and fear, following a car accident. If, however, you have developed PTSD, these feelings will not go away over time and may even get worse.

According to the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, a person may have developed PTSD after experiencing or witnessing trauma like a car accident, and experience the following symptoms:

  • Experiencing avoidance behaviors;
  • Feeling changes in emotional reactions;
  • Experiencing intrusive memories; and/or
  • Mood and thoughts reflective of negative changes.

After being in a Car Accident, Are You Looking for a Lawyer to Represent You?

If you’ve been involved in a car or truck accident, especially if the injuries are serious, is critical that you get legal advice from a trusted personal injury lawyer.

We have been earning the trust of the communities that we serve with decades of experience in personal injury; thus are leading truck and auto accident lawyer in Orland Park, Tinley Park, Matteson, Chicago Heights, and elsewhere throughout Illinois.  For more than forty-one (41) years, David G. McDermott has been successfully representing personal injury Clients and ensuring they receive the full value of their claims.

Get in touch with us at McDermott & McDermott, LTD, today for a free legal consultation. Call us at 708 747 9440.

By |2021-02-02T18:29:11+00:00January 30th, 2021|Uncategorized|0 Comments

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